Sometimes the dog helps by leaping up onto the exam table -- which in some cases is really nice because the vet then doesn't have to bend over the dog. Other times I put the dog into what position I think they are needed in, and the rest of the time I ask.

What is nice is when you can tell your dog, "Go with her" and they trust you enough to trot along with a total stranger and then do whatever they want them to do.

And never has anyone in the vet's office forced my dogs or specifically tried to dominate them. It hasn't been necessary. They have enough experience with dogs to give them the right vibes without playing any alpha cards.

Sometimes the dog helps by leaping up onto the exam table -- which in some cases is really nice because the vet then doesn't have to bend over the dog. Other times I put the dog into what position I think they are needed in, and the rest of the time I ask.

What is nice is when you can tell your dog, "Go with her" and they trust you enough to trot along with a total stranger and then do whatever they want them to do.

And never has anyone in the vet's office forced my dogs or specifically tried to dominate them. It hasn't been necessary. They have enough experience with dogs to give them the right vibes without playing any alpha cards.

That's how it should be
Thats why a good relationship with your vet is SOOOOO important, and a little gruff bedside manner should not put one off going there if everything else is right

And for the OP if that Vet is your local Vet - you never know when you may really need their help for an emergency at some ungodly hour so don't burn bridges unless you really have to

Since I assume with the dog on side thing we're talking about Grim, the vet and tech did this because the exam required that. I wasn't told he needed to be in this position, so I couldn't have helped them. It all happened pretty fast, and then the vet tech had a better hold on him. My point was the vet wasn't afraid, even though he just avoided being bit. Most pups wouldn't react that way. I had no idea he'd react like that, he's been fine otherwise with vets. I've had vets that wanted my previous male muzzled for routine exams even though I knew him and it wasn't necessary. That (for me) was enough to get me to go to another vet. I agree that if you've got an adult (or older pup) that doesn't do so well you may need a muzzle. However, I'm against muzzling simply because of the breed. Even when my male was hurt after another dog attacked him, he was great with the vet, techs, etc. Grim also went to the eye specialist which required some uncomfortable testing and he was great with that, too. As long as no one puts him in the mindset of 'this person's trying to dominate me', he's fine.

I had something similar happen once at the vets. Was there for a routine check-up and the new vet at the practice opened the door. She took one look at Rayden, refused to step foot into the room until "That dog has a muzzle on"

She had jumped back to the other side of the hallway, as far away as possible from the room, yelling for someone to hurry up and bring a muzzle. The whole time, Rayden was just laying on the floor watching her with the famous "wow this lady is flipping" headtilt. She told them "I won't go in until that dog is muzzled" and of course I said "Don't worry about it, we're leaving"

They actually stopped me on the way out and tried to make me pay for the office visit. Not likely since the vet wouldn't even enter the room with my dog.

The vet Jonas was going to kinda got him out of biting really fast. she held him down until he would quit whining, then start to look at him. If he would puppy nip her, she would firmly slap him under the chin. This went on for several visits until I said hey thats enough!! My last visit there Jonas was so scared he curled up on the floor behind my legs under the bench shaking profusely. This was a holistic vet. they loved money for sure, and did alot of weird things to him. Massages and chiropractic stuff. Now remember all this stuff was being done to a 8-16 week pup. I know I shouldn't of let it go on so long, but they had ways of explaining the benefits of their practice that made it sound like it was really good for him. "WRONG"!! The new vet I go to now, after I explained the scared of the vet situation to her, is really gentle with him and gets down on his level, and don't force him down or slap him. My last visit there he was licking and kissing them. He still has some issues when I try to clean his ears, but hes getting there. Jonas is a very loving GSD and loves everyone. I wish I never let the beginning happen to him

__________________
Jonas :Black & Red WGSL D.O.B.01/14/2012.
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When I first got Arwen, She was a tiny little thing 6 pounds. And the vet made herself so small, on the floor. There was no trying to dominate the little puppy. Reading your post, Loneforce filled me with sadness. Sadness for the puppy, you, the owner, and for all the people that this vet is doing that kind of crap to.

Jag, I have offered and asked for a muzzle on my dogs. I do not want them to bite even if they are hurting, or scared. So far, mine haven't but I just don't want to put the staff at risk. If they want to put a muzzle on my girl who is injured and needing to be lifted to get an x-ray, I have no problem with that at all. But if they wanted me to muzzle a dog for an exam, simply because it is a GSD, and it is not behaving badly, that would tick me off.

It's funny, but my girls do not freak out from being muzzled. It doesn't bother them. It makes me feel more comfortable. I might not be liable if my dog bites a vet or vet tech, but I would feel bad about it. I can count all the times we have muzzled a dog at the vet's on the fingers of one hand, and considering the number of dogs I have and have had, that's pretty good I think.

Just a very late update to all: I changed vets after my next visit when the vet said they taught him at vet school to never trust a GSD. He doesn't work with these dogs ever. We live in an area where people just don't have purebred large dogs of any kind. Lots of little terriers and mutts. I wasn't comfortable bringing her there after that. I now drive 50 minutes to a vet that is very used to large dogs and he doesn't have a problem with her at all. Jovi is now 7 months old and out landshark phase, but she likes to hold your hand with her mouth...just hold it there. The vet thinks it's funny. It's an affection thing for her...she does it at night when he gets in bed with me until she falls asleep. Such a strange quirk. Anyway, all that being said...I've switched vets and I'm happy.

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